LITESPORT London Lite Friday, 23 October 2009 47 TO KINGS NEEDSBREAKING NEWS... Button-Lewis dream team McLAREN have been linked with a sensational swoop for world champion Jenson Button -- where he would join fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton (below) in 2010. With Buttons contract negotiations at Brawn GP still up in the air, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh refused to deny the possibility. He said: Weve talked to a number of drivers. It wouldnt be appropriate to say more than that. Well hire the two best drivers available to us as we always have. Finn Heikki Kovalainen is set to leave McLaren, who have so far failed in their bid to replace him with Ferraris Kimi Raikkonnen. DON AND DUSTED: PAGE 43 AROUND 10,000 Liverpool fans are expected to demonstrate against co- owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett before Sundays clash at Anfield against Manchester United. Supporters group Spirit of Shankly encouraged 4,000 banner-waving protesters to descend prior to last seasons match against arch-rivals United but they are likely to double that tally this week. Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has been in the firing line since Tuesday, when his side were beaten 2-1 by Lyon in the Champions League -- their fourth consecutive defeat. Reflecting on Liverpools worst losing streak for 22 years, SoS spokesman Paul Gardner said: There are two culprits -- Gillett and Hicks. They are the ones who put us into 245m debt, promised us a stadium which has not been built. We want them out now. With captain Steven Gerrard injured, the only good news comes from refs boss Keith Hackett. After last weeks incident, when Sunderland scored thanks to a deflection off a rogue beach-ball, Hackett said: Referee Andre Marriner is mindful of that. Any outside object interfering will result in a dropped ball. WEST HAM v ARSENAL PREMIER LEAGUE SUNDAY, LIVE ON SKY SPORTS 1 FROM 4PM (KICK-OFF: 4.15PM) REFEREE STEVE BENNETT (KENT) KEY MEN CARLTON COLE WEST HAM WILLIAM GALLAS and Thomas Vermaelen, on the early evidence, look like giving Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic a run for their money as the best central defensive partnership in the league. But if there is one forward designed to give Gallas a going over then its the England hopeful Cole. The France defender copes against nimble footed attackers with ease, but a unit like Cole, with obligatory good feet for a big man, often scares the life out him. ANDREY ARSHAVIN ARSENAL DESPITE having notched five times already this season and being almost immune to criticism, there is a feeling among some Arsenal fans that their Russian forward hasnt quite hit the heights he reached almost from the moment the ink was dry on his Arsenal contract last January. The effects of his international involvement with Russia has taken a slight edge off his game. Arsene Wenger had intended to rest him last week, but Theo Walcotts brittleness forced Arshavin into action. WEST HAM 4-4-2 ARSENAL 4-1-2-3 Green Faubert Ilunga UpsonTomkins Collison Behrami Green ColeDiamanti Parker POSSIBLE LINE-UPS WEEKEND FIXTURES (3pmkick-offsunlessstated) TONIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPWATFORDvSheffWed (7.45,SkySports1) TOMORROW PREMIERLEAGUEv BirminghamvSunderland,BurnleyvWigan, CHELSEAvBlackburn(5.30,ESPN),Hullv Portsmouth,TOTTENHAMvStoke,Wolvesv AstonVilla(12.45,SkySports1) CHAMPIONSHIPBarnsleyvBristolCity, CoventryvWestBrom,CRYSTALPALACE vNottmForest,DerbyvQPR(5.30,BBC2), NewcastlevDoncaster,Peterboroughv Scunthorpe,PlymouthvIpswich,Prestonv Middlesbrough,SheffUtdvCardiff,Swansea vBlackpool LEAGUE ONE BRENTFORD v Stockport, Brighton v Oldham, Bristol Rovers v Yeovil, Carlisle v SOUTHEND, Colchester v Walsall, Exeter v WYCOMBE, GILLINGHAM v CHARLTON, Hartlepool v Tranmere, Huddersfield v LEYTON ORIENT, MILLWALL v Leeds, Norwich v Swindon, Southampton v Milton Keynes Dons LEAGUE TWO BARNET v Darlington, Bournemouth v Grimsby, Bradford v Hereford, Bury v Rotherham, Chesterfield v Burton Albion, Lincoln City v Torquay, Macclesfield v DAG & RED, Morecambe v Northampton, Notts County v Crewe, Port Vale v Cheltenham, Rochdale v Accrington Stanley, Shrewsbury v Aldershot SUNDAY PREMIER LEAGUE BoltonvEverton(1.30), LiverpoolvManUtd(2.00,SkySports1), ManCityvFULHAM,WESTHAMvARSENAL (4.15,SkySports1) LIVERPOOL V MAN U SUNDAY, 2PM (SKY SPORTS 1) The power of Vito remains firmly in place for Gunners VITO MANNONE, under pressure from three fit-again goalkeepers at Arsenal, is determined to prove he is Arsene Wengers No1 at West Ham on Sunday. Since Manuel Almunia was sidelined with a chest infection in mid-September, the 21-year-old Italian has kept goal in all but one of a seven-match winning streak that was only ended in stoppage time by AZ Alkmaar on Tuesday night. Such has been the impression Mannone has made on manager Wenger, Almunia found himself on the bench for the last two games despite being declared fully fit. With knee injury victim Lukasz Fabianski suffering no adverse reaction to his first action since a pre-season outing against Valencia in August for the reserves earlier this week, competition has rarely been so fierce. But Mannone, who has kept four clean sheets in Arsenals current run, said: West Ham is another derby but when you play in the Champions League, it is the highest pressure you can get. We are all thinking about Sundays game and want to get going in the Premier League title race with another victory. I just want to keep doing what I have been doing and, so far, the boss has chosen me so I am happy. Fabianski conceded twice in a 2-2 draw with Wolves reserves and said: Its good to be back playing because the stuff you do in the gym is really boring. Its not a funny being injured. Youngster Wojciech Szczesny, who kept goal in the Carling Cup to allow Mannone a rest, is also a contender and Wenger said: I believe we have enough quality. Goalkeeper is a very difficult position. Why? It is the only position where you have only negative stress. People speak about you only when you have made a mistake. BY NEAL COLLINS Mannone in a million: Vito Mannone is No1 despite the return to fitness of Manuel Almunia Too many balls: last weeks row 10,000 angry fans, but no beach balls at Anfield Parker Van PersieArshavin GallasVermaelen Song Vermaelen Clichy Sagna Diaby Mannone Fabregas Eduardo RAY WILKINS may have to step in to act as Chelsea manager against Blackburn at Stamford Bridge tomorrow after Carlo Ancelottis father was taken seriously ill. Ancelotti flew back to Italy on Wednesday to be at the bedside of 86-year-old Giuseppe. Wilkins, the clubs assistant first- team coach, said: I sincerely hope Carlo will be back with us and his fathers condition has improved. If that isnt the case then I will look after this team with no problem whatsoever. I spoke to Carlo last night. His father was stable. Our thoughts are with him. Wilkins ready to act as boss 2
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